The chorus of voices calling on more accountability when it comes to racism in the United States continues to grow louder. Milwaukee and its surrounding communities, including Menomonee Falls, are no exception.
While protests in the last week have shed light on racial issues involving a Menomonee Falls village trustee, a student group at Menomonee Falls High School has been pushing for diversity and inclusion for a much longer period of time.
“They call themselves VOICE: Voices of Individuals Changing Education,” said Alisia Moutry, an educational consultant who has worked long-term with students to teach them advocacy and how to positively make change.
“That’s what they’re hoping for, that their voice is heard and the district is willing to take action.”
Moutry tells WTMJ’s John Mercure and Melissa Barclay that more than a dozen focus groups with these students have helped build solutions they could put into action.
“They talked a lot about ‘How do we provide professional development around culture?’ Not only for students, but for teachers, staff and parents,” Moutry said.
“They talked about maybe having some type of protocol or standard around addressing racial undertones. In the school system, they have some things around bullying, some non-negotiables. I thought the students came up with a really good idea, ‘Let’s talk about race with that as well. What’s a non-negotiable? What will people have consequences for? What will the rule be for the school that will be a district-wide deal?’ “
One of their other focuses involves diversity and inclusion with district staff, and it has turned into making student a potential hiring source.
“There is a club now within the high school that talks within the high school about prepping and piquing the interest in students in becoming educators,” Moutry explained.
“If a student is interested in education, they are going to get an automatic interview with Menomonee Falls.”